Brooder



Dec. 951924- 1,518,694

F. C. HARE BROODER Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANKLIN c. HABE, or RocKFoRD, ILLINOIS.

BROODER.

Appllicaton led March 7, 1922. Serial No. 541,788.

and useful Improvements in Brooders, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to brooders for hovering small chicks, and has more particular reference to the so-called hen brooders.

In the use of this class of broeders, it is essential to the life of the chicks that the hover be properly ventilated and uniformly heated. In practice, brooders of this type are invariably heated by small liquid fuel burners having Wicks, and the brooders are frequently placed in the farmyard or any convenient place in the open. They are thus subject to all weather conditions. In pro,- ducing brooders commercially at a low cost, considerable difficult-y has been heretofore experienced in the attempt to provide one I which when used under the conditions mentioned will function continuously with minimum care and attention. One of the dangers is the extinguishing of the wick by wind and sudden gusts, thereby chilling the hover and vinjuring the brood; vanother is lack of proper means for ventilation; and another the lack of proper provision for inspecting and regulating the height of the flame, and consequently the temperature of thehover. These conditions I have aimed to improve by the provision of a hover of simple and novel construction.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a novel means for permitting quick and. easy inspection of the flame without disturbing to the slightest degree the temperature of the hover; to provide an improved heater; to generally improve and simplify the construction and arrangement 'of the brooder casing and the heater therein; and to provide a novel fence adjustably associated with the brooder casing toprovide a run, the area of which may be changed at will to suit the different stages of brooding, and also toy provide a closure for the hover, which may be closed at any time to keep in the chicks. f

Another object is to provide a brooder which may be produced and shipped economically.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled vin the art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a brooder embodying my invention; v i

Fig. 2, a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1.; f f

Fig. 3, a side view looking at the right hand side of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4, a detail section taken substantially on the line Ll-t of Fig. 2.

The brooder casing may be of any suitable or preferred construction, and in the present instance I have made it rectangular in form, comprising a quadrilateral bottom 6,

upright walls 7, 8 and19 at three'sides of the bottom and a top 11 having a depending marginal flange 12 overhanging the side walls. This casing incloses the liever compartment and leaves an open side which is reinforced by upper and lower cross bars 13 and 111 respectively, and upright endbars 15. The rectangular frame 13-14-15 defines the-entrance to the hover, and thisentrance wayy or opening is normally closed by a curtain 16 suspended from the top frame bar 18. This curtain may be of any suitable material, but in practice it is preferred Athat it shall be of any commercial oil cloth, scalloped or slotted as shown at the bottom, to allow easy passagevfor the chicks and also to permit ingress of air.

The opeir side of the hover may be further closed by means of a vertical end wall17 which-is .secured to side walls 18. These side vwallsare slidable uponv the bottom 6 along the outer sides of the side walls 7 and 9, but retained against outward displacement by depending sheet metal guides 19. The fence vformed by the parts 17 and '18 may thus be slid yinwardly and outwardly on the brooder casing in drawer fashion 'to provide a fenced `in area 21, commonly known as a run for the chicks. The area of this run may obviously be varied from day to day to suit the particular stage of the brood and at any time the fence frame may be pushed all the way in so that the end wall 17 entirely closes the open curtain-covered side of the hover. I-Ioles 22 in the wall 17 admitsuliicient air to the hover when the wall 17 is in closed position. yThese holes also serve as linger grips for opening and closing the fence frame. The advantages of having a run adjustable as to area in the manner afforded herein will be appreciated by those familiar with this art as it enables the area of the run to be gradually increased with the growth of the chicks, and when desired the run may be closed entirely in a very simple manner.

The heater of novel construction, I position on the floor 6 in the center of the hover. The heater structure comprises in its present embodiment a base designated generally by 23 shaped to provide a liquid fuel container and kalso to support the wick and other parts. The upper wall ofthe container is conical as shown, and has a threaded opening at its apex for the reception of: a wick holder`24, which carries a wick 25 adapted to be fed up and dovvn by turning the linger piece 26. It will be observed that this linger piece is carried by'a wick-adjusting shaft 27 which extends through an opening 2S in a cylindrical apron 29 which is removably supported on the container 23. An upstanding annular retaining wall 3l lixed to the top of the container 23 holds the apron 29 in position and constitutes a dirt guard for preventing the admission of sand, dirt and other foreign matter in the hover from entering the burner compartment. This re tainingY wall also provides a shield or baille at the air inlet 2S for preventing any lateral gust or current of air from entering: the burner compartment and extinguishing the flame. Thereis supported on the apron 29 a heater hood comprising a flat bottom disk 32 and a conical top 33, the latter of which terminates in a chiinnev 34 litting loosely in an openingfl in the top l1. There are four equally spaced openings 36 through the hood bottom 32v near the apron through which openingsthe heated air passes upwardly into the hood. The hood compartment is divided vertically by a partition 37 which is imperforateexcept for fourequally spaced openings 38 in its periphery. Thispartition 37 constitutes a baille causing the heated air to travel outwardly .from vthe openings 36 to the outer edge of the hood. rlhe heated air and fumes passupwardly through the openings 38 and thence through the chimney 34 to the outer atmosphere. It will be observed that the burner compartment is closed to the admission of air except throughthe opening 28. This opening provides just sufficient air to support proper combustion of the wick. By reason of the circuitous path which the heated air is caused'to travehthe heat will be retained in the hood for a sufficient'period to throw oft' its "heat properties and to'enab-le the maintenance ot` a steady temperature with a low flame. It will be observed that the chimney is flush with the top of the brooder casing, consequently it is not an obstruction subject to injury. This flush top chimney construction and arrangement of `the baille plate 37 prevent extinguishing the flame by back drafts or currents which might be caused by sudden gusts of Wind.

My invention contemplates novel means for quickly, easily and accurately ascertain ing at any time the height of the flame without disturbing any of the parts of the broeder or heater. In other words, I have provided means whereby the attendant may from a standing position above the broeder, instantly determine the actual height of the llame. To this end I have provided in one side of the apron 29, an opening 39 covered by a piece of suitable transparent material, such as-isinglass 41. At the outer side of the apron I have supported in radial alignment with the opening` 39 and the flame of the wick, a reflector surface 42, preferably in the form of a mirror. In the present instance, al suitable bracket 43 supports the mirror 42'in a position at 45 degrees with respect to the vertical so as to reflect the vision of the flame upwardly through a sight passage 44 in the heater hood and through a sight opening 45 in the cover 1l., Which opening is closed by a piece of isinglass 46. It willA thus be seen that a sight opening is provided in the top of the broeder, whereby the precise condition-and heightv of the flame may be instantly ascertained. It will be observed that the means to this end are not subjected to the flame, and consequently will not become sooted. Instead, the condition of the flame is ever present in the sight open ing andthe attendant may very quickly and conveniently inspect any number of broeders without disturbing in any way the temperature inl the hovers.

In I' using a broeder such as described herein, the desired temperature may be Ii'naintainedin the hover with a comparative ly small flame, because of the fact that the heat is retainedand utilized to the best advantage. The flame is fully protect-ed against drafts and wind, thereby -promoting practicability and insuring safety to the chicks. The matter of` dame inspection by actual vision of the flame image from above is alsohighly desirable. The adjustable run enables the proper care of the chicks and promotes efliciency.

=It is believed that the foregoing conveys ing wall on the top vvall of said fuel container, an annular apron supported on said top wall spaced within said retaining wall and having an opening lfor the ingress of air, a wick burner supported on the container within said apron, a heater hood sup` ported on said apron and having a chimney through the top of the hover casing, said heater hood over-reaching the apron and having means for causing kthe heated air rising from the space within the lapron to travel outwardly in the hood beyond said apron before reaching the chimney.

2. A brooder of the character described, comprising a hover, a chick-supporting base and a burner thereon within the hover, a

vertical wall about the burner defining a heater compartment above said base, a heater hood supported on said vertical wall and having a flue outlet through the top of the hover, said heater hood overreaching the sides of said heater compartment, a reflector positioned at theouter side of said heater compartment wall for reflecting the image of the burner llame upwardly, and a sight passage through the overhanging portion of the heater hood through which said image of the flame may be viewed from above the brooder.

3. A brooder of the character described, comprising a hover casing and a heater unit within said casing carrying means whereby the image of the burner flame may be viewed through the top of said casing, said heater unit comprising a liquid fuel container, a wick-type burner supported on said container, a heater hood having a horizontally disposed heat-circulatingcompartment and a depending wall embracing the burner and supported on said container, said wall defining a heater compartment from which the heat` enters said heater hood compartment, a flue outlet from the hood compartment to the exterior of the hover casing, an opening through said heater compartment wall on a level with the burner flame covered by a sheet of transparent material, means at the outer side of said wall in alignment with said opening and burner flame for reflecting the image of said flame upwardly, a sight passage through the hood in vertical alignment with said reflecting means, and a sight opening in the top of the hover casing in alignment with said hood passage.

t. A brooder of the character described, comprising a hover, and a heater unit within the hover comprising a chick-supporting base and a burner thereon, a warm air drum around the burner, a heated hood supported on said drum and overreaching the chicksupporting base, a reflector at the outer side of said drum supported directly thereby for reflecting the image of the burner flame upwardly, and a sight passage through the overreaehing portion of the heater hood through which said image may be viewed from above.

5. A brooder of the character described, comprising av hover casing, a heater structure thereinin two sepa 'able parts, one part comprising a liquid fuel container' and a wick burner and the other part comprising a warm air drum adapted to rest on the container and embracing the burner, a heater hood supported on top -of said drum and carrying a flue outlet, a flame reflector on the outer side of and carried directly by said drum, and a sight passage through the heater hood for viewing said reflector from above. i

6. In a brooder of the character described, the combination of a liquid fuel container of relatively broad flat shape forming a base, a wick burner carried at a central position on the container', a warm air drum supported on the container around the burner, the marginal portions of the container reaching beyond the warm arm drum, a heater hood supported on said drum and overhanging said marginal portions of the container, a horizontally disposed partition in said hood dividing the same into an upper and a lower compartment, a passage connecting the lower compartment and the heating chamber formed by said drum, passages in the marginal portion of said partition connecting the upper and lower compartment-s in the hood, and a flue outlet from said upper compartment.

7. In a brooder of the character described, the combination of a circular, comparatively flat, liquid fuel container, a burner on said container, a warm air drum of substantially' less diameter than the container sup-ported thereon surrounding llie burner, a circular heater hood of substantially the same diameter as the container supported on said drum and partitioned internally to provide a cireuitous air passage, whereby heated air rising from within the wall or drum will be positively caused to circulate in the portions of the hood overreaching the drum, and a flue outlet for the hood.

8. In a brooder of the character described, the combination of a circular liquid fuel container and a heater hood, the latter being supported on the former by a warm air drum, a burner mounted on the container within. the drum, said container and heater hood each being circular, relatively shallow, concentrically disposed and projecting marginally beyond the warm air drum, and means for causing warm air rising from said drum to positively pass in a circuitous path within the marginal portion of the heater hood.

9. ln a brooder of the character described, the combination of a hover casing, a liquid fuel container therein, a wick burner supported on the container, a Warm vrair drum'v its lower edge, a Wick-adjustingrod connected with the burner and reaching outwardly through saidopening' and being 0perable at the exterior of thewarrn air drum for adjust-ing the Wick, a deflector Wall at the exterior of said opening, and a heater hood supported on said drum.

10. In a brooder of the character described, the combination of a comparatively broad, circular liquid container, a Wick burner at a central position on said container, a warm air drum of substantially less diameter than the container supported thereon embracing the burner,A and a relatively broad, circular heater hood supported on said drum with its marginal portion overhanging the same and being heated by circulation of air rising from the interior of the Warm air drum.

l1. In a broeder, the combination of a relatively broad and flat fuel container, a Wick burner at a central position thereon, an upright Wall embracing' the burner and providing a Warm air compartment, said compartment covering only the central portion of the container and leaving thevmarginal portion thereof as a floor for the chicks, a heater hood supported on said upright Wall substantially overhanging the same and having means for causing heated air rising from said compartment to positively travel in a circuitous path in said overreachingq portion, and a flue outlet `for the hood.

FRANKLIN C. HABE. 

